Lack of imagination

Imagination truly lacks in our churches. I noticed that having spent some time on a board about church and men (61% of church attendance is women, and under 30 it is much higher). The solutions proposed always lack real imagination - all about sermon length, song choice, -- all more about slapping a coat of paint on the facade rather than real change.

I think this lack of imagination traces back to various church "reforms" over the centuries. We nearly killed it nearly 5 centuries ago, with the reformation and the enlightenment period. Knowledge became king, and for centuries our churches were down a path of pursuing knowledge of God rather than God. Just look dispassionately at our churches and their activities - the emphasis in meetings, Sunday School, etc is all about study, the pursuit of knowledge. And as Skye Jethani observes in Divine Commodity, for all the dominance of Christianity in the Western world in that time, how much real transformation do we see evidenced?

This pursuit of knowledge as a failure has been admitted to in action. In the late years of the last century, the shift went in 'cutting edge' churches to skill development. Twelve principles of financial management. 5 ways to a better marriage. 7 steps to obedient kids. On and on it goes. But look at the outcome - by imitating the self-help section of your local bookstore, we cheapened the power of Christ and the Holy Spirit. The result is that the migration out the door has accelerated. Why go to church for that stuff, when you can get it elsewhere? The church became just another self-help outlet, and if the vibrancy of the movement of Christ can be measured in church attendance, well, it's in trouble as attendance is dropping, especially for those under 30 and they aren't returning after marriage and kids, and the church is losing a grip on society.

And I think it all traces to a lack of imagination. We copy what was done in the past by churches of old. We copy society, repackaging what is popular in the marketplace in the Christian bookstores and in our churches (seen the diet books and programs?). It is considered radical to call the pastor by another name like "coach", or to let them wear jeans when they preach.

Another evidence on the lack of imagination is to look at the results when the imagination is engaged. For example, John Eldredge's Ransomed Heart Ministry purposely engages it. They retell the gospel as an Epic story, treat life as story. They point out that the language of the heart is story. In speaking, John and his team use film clips to illustrate story, recasting movies as modern parables. They engage the imagination by showing how modern movie heroes like William Wallace, Maximus, Neo, and many more are reflections of Jesus. And it works. The fruit of transformed lives that result is incredible.

But the need of imagination goes beyond what and how we teach. We need it in reconsidering how to "do church". We need to look to the past, but not to the past history of the church. We need to look to Jesus. Jesus didn't leave us with a pattern for doing church - he said follow him. Church is to be an outgrowth of the community that forms around Jesus. We can't even look to those few decades right after the Resurrection. No, that was what was right for that time. We cannot return, but we move forward with the same principles. Paul didn't "plant churches" - he went to new city to teach and train disciples. Church was pretty much the afterthought. Yes, he helped organize them, or perhaps rather recognized where the Spirit was organizing them and helped facilitate the work of the Spirit. We need to let our imagination flow, let God inhabit that, and see what forms it takes today. And in 10 years, let that continue. Keep going back to the source, recognize how we've changed, how culture has changed around us, and as Alan Hirsch says "reJesus" the church again.

We need Godly imagination, not repackaged history mixed with repackaged worldly consumerism and its marketing and business principles.

We need FREEDOM.